Page 63 of Living La Vida Mocha

“Yeah, I’m fine.” He sighed. “Maybe I’m just a little nervous too.”

“Why?”

“Honestly?”

I nodded as a knot of insecurity balled tightly in my gut.

“Because even though I told her the truth,” he hung his head, “she thinks you put me up to it, how it was all your idea, and how you want me to take the fall.”

Allowing my heavy sound to punctuate the air, I pressed into the molded seat of the car.“She’s never going to forgive me, is she?”

He cupped my chin and gently turned my face to look at him. “She will. Eventually. She’s been angry for the better part of a decade, and she can’t flip a switch and forgive quickly. Just be yourself and she’ll have no choice but to fall in love with you like I did.”

I sighed again, not feeling an ounce better, although Carter’s words were like melted butter. “You make it sound so easy.”

“It is. You’ll see. Now c’mon, you need to meet Jasper. He’s the opposite of Bea, and they’re fun to see together.”

I plastered on a brave smile. “Okay, let’s do this.”

We exited the car and headed up the walkway. Deep inside my pocket, my phone buzzed, and I pulled it out shielding the realtor’s name from Carter’s prying eyes.

“Hey, it’s just Amanda. She’s lost.”

“Well, I can help.”

“Nah.” I tried to wave away the sudden uptick in my voice. I really wanted to return this call. But I didn’t want to spill the bean to Carter just yet. “Go on in, warm your sister up to the additional guests coming, and I’ll join in when she gets here. She can’t be that far away.”

I looked at the dessert in his mittened hands.

His brows knit together, but a slow, hesitant bob greeted me. “Yeah, okay. Well, just knock and enter when everyone’s here.”

“Thanks.” I breathed out a breathy sigh of relief.

I waited until he went into his sister’s place before I hit redial. My focus jumped around, but mostly it stayed on the front of the house making sure Carter didn’t come back outside and Amanda wasn’t pulling up.

“Hey, Cara.”

“Hugo. I’m assuming you’re calling to talk to me about the offer?”

Yesterday, after viewing a few residences, I found one I’d fallen in love with. It was perfect; a two-bedroom loft with a view of the mountains, and it was tucked back off Main Street. It had everything I wanted and although the price was higher than I’d hoped, I still put an offer on it, knowing it would be tight but workable.

My heart pounded at a breakneck speed.

“I’ll cut right to the chase. They rejected your offer.”

With that, my heart stopped, froze, and splashed into my stomach.

“Just like that? I was flexible with possession dates, and I already have financing ready to go. Do they want more money?” I’d already offered their asking price.

“I’m sorry.”

I turned my back to the house. “What about the other place? The one on Boulder? Can I put an offer on that?” My voice pitched in wild desperation. Getting away from the motel was a need, not a want.

“It’s already pending from another couple.”

The air rushed out of my lungs. “Can I make a higher bid?”

“No. The sellers have accepted their offer pending financing.”